Clonal and cellular dynamics in germinal centers.

Clonal and cellular dynamics in germinal centers. Curr Opin Immunol. 2014 Mar 26;28C:90-96 Authors: Victora GD, Mesin L Abstract Germinal centers (GCs) are the site of antibody affinity maturation, a process that involves complex clonal and cellular dynamics. Selection of B cells bearing higher-affinity immunoglobulins proceeds via a stereotyped pattern whereby B cells migrate cyclically between the GC's two anatomical compartments. This process occurs in a timeframe that is well suited to analysis by intravital microscopy, and much has been learned in recent years by use of these techniques. On a longer time scale, the diversity of B cell clones and variants within individual GCs is also thought to change as affinity maturation progresses; however, our understanding of clonal dynamics in individual GCs is limited. We discuss recent progress in the elucidation of clonal and cellular dynamics patterns. PMID: 24681449 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Current Opinion in Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tags: Curr Opin Immunol Source Type: research